The Sporty BMW Z4 Is Not to Be Toyed With

What's in a BMW roadster? Let's take a look at the BMW Z4.
Written by Andrew Kidd
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Who makes peppy two-door roadsters anymore besides Mazda?
BMW
would like a word.
If you want a sporty little convertible roadster but at a higher price point, the two-door
BMW Z4
—which starts at nearly twice the price of a base
Mazda MX-5 Miata
—might be just what you're looking for.

The BMW Z4 Roadster

The Z4 roadster comes in two models: the base Z4 sDrive30i and the Z4 M40i.
This Z4 sDrive30i boasts a 2.0-liter twin-turbo inline four-cylinder engine producing 255 horsepower and 294 lb.-ft. of torque. While not the fastest BMW off the start—look to the M8 Series if you want real power—the Z4 still hits a modest 5.2-second 0-to-60 time. 
And with a top speed of 155 mph, it's definitely at home on the track as it is zipping between blind spots on Detroit's Southfield Freeway (if you can avoid the potholes).
It's also smaller than many four-door subcompacts at 170 inches in length and a height of just over 51 inches. But this two-seater coupe ditches the backseat to make for a little more legroom in the cabin. The Z4 sDrive30i starts at $51,500.
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A performance upgrade

The Z4 M40i gets a performance boost thanks to a larger 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline six-cylinder engine producing 382 horsepower and 368 lb-.ft. of torque. It also gives it a 3.9-second 0-to-60 time with the same 155 mph top speed of its less-premium counterpart. 
While it doesn't come in manual, it features an 8-speed sport automatic transmission with Sport and Manual shift modes as well as steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters and launch control.
But that bang requires a little more buck, with the BMW Z4 M40i starting at $65,300 MSRP.

Which BMW Z4 should I get?

You should definitely get the performance-enhanced Z4 M40i. Despite the higher starting price, you get quite a bit more power for the added cost. It also features some other upgrades, such as contoured M Sport seats which provide lateral support for more aggressive driving.
To help deliver more stopping power, the Z4 M40i features M Sport brakes with blue or red calipers, which the automaker says provides precision stopping power while available 19" wheels with performance tires give you the grip to get going again.
It also features multiple driving modes, with standard Adaptive M suspension letting you choose between sporty driving or relaxed and casual cruising.
Of course, if you don't want to spend ten grand more for the performance model, you can still get performance styling on the base Z4 with the M Sport Motorsport Form package, which adds M series exterior trim, 18" double-spoke gray wheels, and an M steering wheel on top of the standard M Sport seats.
MORE: The Top 3 Convertible Roadsters of 2021

How much is it to insure your BMW Z4?

According to our data, BMWs have an average monthly insurance premium of about $261—which is about $11 cheaper per month than another German luxury automaker, Mercedes-Benz. That means your average yearly premium is going to be about $3,134.
But don't take our word for it; let us do the quote hunting for you. The best way to get the lowest rate is to shop around.
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